3cyclus

3cyclus is a term used across disciplines to describe systems organized around three interrelated cycles. As a label, it is often more of a conceptual motif than a single standardized framework, and it is sometimes used as a project or product name.

In mathematics, a three-cycle is a type of permutation that sends three elements in a cyclic order. For elements a, b, c, the permutation maps a to b, b to c, and c back to a. Such cycles have order three and are building blocks in group theory.

In systems thinking and lifecycle approaches, 3cyclus-type models describe processes that repeat in triads of activity, such as design/implement/review or plan/do/learn. This tripod supports iterative improvement through repeated cycles.

In sustainability and resources management, the concept is linked to triadic approaches like reduce–reuse–recycle, emphasizing iterative improvement of resource use and waste management.

In software and data processing, some projects or toolchains adopt the 3cyclus name to denote a three-stage pipeline: ingest or acquire data, transform or process it, and deliver or store results. These tools are typically open-ended and modular, designed for extensibility.

The term's exact meaning depends on context, and there is no single canonical definition of 3cyclus. It appears in academic discussions, industry branding, and open-source projects as a flexible shorthand for triadic, repeating cycles. See also cycle (mathematics), permutation, triad, and three-cycle.